#Tree Work Hertfordshire
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
emmalenalouisaellis · 12 days ago
Text
A Reflection of Hopes and Dreams
First, a very merry Happy Year to you all; gosh, is it almost mid-January? Time sure does go fast, doesn't it?
Tumblr media
Well then, I've boiled another cup of tea, and since it's so cold at this time of year, feel free to grab one of the blankets from the blanket box while we chat. So this is January, a time for reflection and longing for bed during icy mornings, though spring will soon be here.
Tumblr media
My life has changed a lot since I first started this blog, and I felt compelled to update my small gathering of followers and anyone who might be interested in following my journey now.
In February 2022, I finally published my first novel 'Ginsterpigs', on what was Two's Day, Tuesday 22/2/2022. I also moved away from Hertfordshire to Stowmarket, bought a house, and got married.
It all happened so fast, and yet I have only to blink, and we're into another month, and soon I'll be celebrating the first year as a vintage wearing, not entirely domestic, housewife.
Tumblr media
Source: I Love Lucy, starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz from CBS 1951-1957.
So, I first wrote a ‘bucket list’ in 2014 of a few thoughts and dreams I wanted to achieve. Some parts of it have changed, and others have stayed the same, as my life and my focus have sharpened, and things have been brought to a new perspective or priority.
24-year-old me was very tired of the job search and never-ending sea of competing against my fellow freelancers vying for attention, writing the drafts of my novel, and finding her feet in the world of dating and vintage clothing, and here I'm 34, nearly 35, working on my next book and the audiobook adaption of the first one.
I had initially wanted to get married by 24/25 and have a family by 30 but for now, I'm enjoying being married to my best friend, even if we only found each other aged 31 and enjoying being a homeowner with a stable career, who shares the chores and responsibilities that come with it.
Although we both want children, we are happy with whatever happens, and it is much nicer to have found my Mr Right and some financial stability than I might have done if I had done things sooner.
Even if I still don't like early mornings - especially on Mondays...
Tumblr media
So here is my little list, which maybe I'll come back to next year and review or a few more years down the road, depending on both time and memory.
I’d love a photo wall in our house for pictures with our friends, family, and loved ones. I know the space isn't 'big' or massive here, but I could see it being in time going up the stairs, peeking through in welcome when guests visit. We also want to compile travel journals of some of our adventures and have plenty of albums of photos too. So far, we've also managed to create a family cabinet in the living room, featuring, at least for now, my side of the family, which I cobbled together for our wedding - but I'd love to add to it further to include my in-laws and extended family with quirky frames, and smiling memories.
Tumblr media
Elizabeth Taylor coming down the stairs in Father of the Bride, 1950
I'd love to extend the kitchen and add a downstairs bathroom space, with places for utilities and more space for cooking and baking. (and the all-important downstairs toilet). These things would be great for when we have our own family and host dinner parties and board game nights - or simply have a guest to stay.
Tumblr media
There will also be a reading nook in the second bedroom, space to sit and read or write with comfy throws to snuggle down in when it gets cold or dark and space to play music. We’ll have a games chest with lots of consoles and board games downstairs and another basket for blankets and throws to keep us cosy when we curl up for a rom-com or cheesy, sometimes trashy TV.
Tumblr media
In our garden I want to have a few trees and flowers with a vegetable/fruit patch. Thus making us more self-sufficient but also enjoying our own labours in new and favoured recipes. There would ideally be a space at the back of the garden too for a workshop for Sam to keep his bikes and tools and do a few creative projects, with space on the porch on warmer days to sit under some fairy lights and watch the stars or to do a little scrapbooking whilst he does cross-stitch. I also want to set up a little library in the front garden to encourage the local school and community to get engaged in reading.
Tumblr media
In time, we’d like to have a family, 2 kids, 2 cats and a dog. But no matter how many children we have, I’d be happy just seeing them healthy and happy. Teaching them to love reading as much as I do, to be considerate, compassionate and caring with a sense of adventure and a thirst for knowledge.
Music would also be key and I would teach them singing and piano, with a proper piano in the house - if space allows. We would still play music for fun as well and occasionally go to festivals or gigs as a family to enjoy local talents with music playing in our home. I’d also have a makeshift stage, even a spare area of the house with a curtain drawn across it to encourage theatre and make-believe, dress up and laughter. Sam would work with me to introduce them to puppets and games.
Tumblr media
I want to go on holiday and travel to Canada, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and back to Iceland, Norway, Bulgaria, Entrevaux, Pompeii. I also want to discover more of the British Isles and forgotten or overlooked spots like Lundy or Mousehole. But also visit more museums and art galleries, antique shops, curiosity spots, country walks/drives, old houses, castles and country homes, operas, ballets, musicals and theatre shows, both nationally and locally.
Tumblr media
Honeymoon to Norway, overlooking the breathtaking Fjords of Olden
Hobby-wise - despite being anaemic, I would also love to dance again, returning to salsa or maybe try our hand at ballroom and some 50s swing. I want to properly arrange flowers - learning more about weaving willow into baskets and designs, preparing beautiful bouquets to place in the house or to give as gifts, and keeping pretty window displays for our front bay window as the holidays and seasons go by.
Tumblr media
I will also look for new and favourite recipes to cook, bake, and have a set of recipes we have created and adapted for dinner parties we can have with our friends. Through this, I’d love to learn the love and appreciation of wine – whilst we don’t drink much, I’d hope to discover more about the pairings of wines with food and visit vineyards, discovering the sights and histories as well as the tastes. I’d also want to remake perfume and, this time, do it with Sam, maybe making each other a special and individual scent.
Tumblr media
I also want to be more creative, trying more needle felting and a bit more stuff like macramé dolls, gradually conquering my fears and my disabilities to sew, weave and knit - I never mastered this at school, but I would love to be able to make my own dresses and skirts and do alterations and sheering etc, working on vintage patterns and designs rather than just the reproduction after reproduction in most high street stores. Especially since I love vintage fashion so much (though not so much the price tag).
Tumblr media
I want to improve my drawing and painting and go back to pastels and watercolours. It would also be fun to learn calligraphy properly, studying old runes and Old English on occasion, with the myths and legends of oral storytelling. And with the travelling, I’d like to re-remember French, delve into Latin and other languages where I can. Another subject to study will be art history, being able to go into museums and being able to know the history of the artists and the stories behind their work. To learn more about the timelines and how they were - affected and inspired.
Tumblr media
I also want to gain more confidence in myself. Selling old clothes and items that don’t matter to free up my wardrobe and the dusty baggage of the past. Although I’m not ‘massive’, I want to lose a little weight around my stomach so that I can stop putting myself down so much for enjoying my food. I will continue wearing vintage and look to take more photos, finding new dresses every so often, but also making more of my outfits public on Instagram to record my journey.
Tumblr media
I would like to complete my LAMDA medals and exams for harp, piano and singing to honour my grandmother’s and her mother’s legacy, continuing to work on the family tree and family newsletters, telling my children the stories and sharing with them many photos and memories. I've already manged to push myself a nd become certified in my new career, with a new fancy set of letters after my name.
Tumblr media
I appreciate that all this is an extensive list, somewhat dependent on my energy levels, money and space, but if nothing else I shall be happy even if all I achieve is this:
Taking more photos with Sam and friends on all events, even date nights.
Selling unwanted clothes on Facebook market and organise swap parties.
Getting my house in order and having that wonderful space to write.
I will engage more actively with pen pals and write to them, collecting postcards and curiosities, but also send letters to close friends when we cannot meet up as often.
Become more organised in myself and the home and have time to tidy without becoming overwhelmed as quickly.
Continue writing and publishing books in all genres - poetry, a slice of life and romance.
Hang out more with our friends, trying to plan dinner parties and games nights. Maybe we can plan an epic campaign or original fantasy game as a group.
And continue to write more on here, because after all, isn't that where this journey with you started? :)
Til our next meeting.
Have a beautiful day,
x Emmalena
Tumblr media
2 notes · View notes
sillyandsensibleheart · 4 months ago
Text
Excerpt from Chapter 16 (upcoming), Letters from Hertfordshire on Ao3:
"The countryside here continues to endear itself to me. I do not think this says much of the singular beauty of the place, for I believe there is not a countryside anywhere in which I could find nothing to praise. Wherever there is fresh air and good breezes I shall be content. I do not even need fine weather to be pleased. Give me the rain that comes sideways and I shall find a tree or field that looks well in it."
--- Letter from Elizabeth Bennet.
Tumblr media
Summary of Letters from Hertforshire:
After accidentally overhearing a conversation between Elizabeth Bennet and Charolette Lucas at the Netherfield ball, Darcy is forced to admit that he has made an embarrassing misjudgment. Elizabeth Bennet detests him. The trouble is, she might be the very person he needs most to help his sister out of her depression. Darcy must overcome his pride to ask a woman who does not even LIKE him to befriend his lonely sister, while Elizabeth must open her heart to a young woman in need.
Darcy and Elizabeth learn to know each other in broken pieces through letters sent to a mutually beloved girl.
Elizabeth Bennett and Georgiana Darcy become 'pen pals'.
3 notes · View notes
justforbooks · 2 years ago
Video
youtube
Is this the best April Fool's ever?
The news report was produced as an April Fools' Day joke in 1957, and presented a family in the canton of Ticino in southern Switzerland gathering a bumper spaghetti harvest after a mild winter and "virtual disappearance of the spaghetti weevil". Footage of a traditional "Harvest Festival" was aired along with a discussion of the breeding necessary to develop a strain to produce the perfect spaghetti noodle length. Some scenes were filmed at the (now closed) Pasta Foods factory on London Road, St Albans, in Hertfordshire, and at a hotel in Castagnola, Switzerland.
Panorama cameraman Charles de Jaeger dreamed up the story after remembering how teachers at his school in Austria teased his classmates for being so stupid that if they were told that spaghetti grew on trees, they would believe it. The editor of Panorama, Michael Peacock, told the BBC in 2014 how he gave de Jaeger a budget of £100 and sent him off. The report was made more believable through its voice-over by respected broadcaster Richard Dimbleby. Peacock said Dimbleby knew they were using his authority to make the joke work, and that Dimbleby loved the idea and went at it eagerly.
At the time, 7 million of the 15.8 million homes (about 44%) in Britain had television receivers. Pasta was not an everyday food in 1950s Britain, and it was known mainly from tinned spaghetti in tomato sauce and considered by many to be an exotic delicacy. An estimated eight million people watched the programme on 1 April 1957, and hundreds phoned in the following day to question the authenticity of the story or ask for more information about spaghetti cultivation and how they could grow their own spaghetti trees; the BBC told them to "place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best".
The origins of April Fools Day are not clear but it is known that the tradition of practical joking and mischief-making dates back to Ancient Roman times.
It would appear that the festival is closely related to the coming of Spring.
Ancient Romans and Celts celebrated a festival of practical joking at about the time of the Vernal Equinox, as do millions of India's Hindus.
The French also mark 1 April but instead of April Fools they call it Poisson d'Avril (April Fish).
Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at http://justforbooks.tumblr.com
14 notes · View notes
grandmaster-anne · 2 years ago
Text
Court Circular | 9th March 2023
Buckingham Palace
His Excellency the Hon Philip Goff was received in audience by The King today upon his appointment as High Commissioner for New Zealand in London. Mrs Goff was also received by His Majesty. His Excellency the Hon Stephen Smith was received in audience by The King upon his appointment as High Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Australia in London. Ms Jane Seymour was also received by His Majesty. The King received Addresses from Privileged Bodies to which His Majesty was graciously pleased to make reply. These were: the General Synod of the Church of England, the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Free Churches Group, the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), the City of London Corporation, the Corporation of the City of Edinburgh, the University of Edinburgh, the University of London, the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen, the Royal Society, the Greater London Authority, the Royal Academy of Arts, the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Anglo-Jewish Association, the Governor and Company of the Bank of England, the Lieutenancy of the City of London, the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, the Dean and Chapter of St Paul’s Cathedral, the City of Westminster, the Corporation of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, the Dean and Canons of St George’s Chapel, Windsor, the Royal County of Berkshire, the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, and the Military Knights of Windsor. The King’s Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard was on duty. His Majesty afterwards held a Reception at Buckingham Palace for the Privileged Bodies. The King later visited the Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, New Haw, and was received by His Majesty’s LordLieutenant of Surrey (Mr Michael More-Molyneux), the Minister of State for Biosecurity (the Lord Benyon), the Chairman (Mr Christopher Nicholson) and Mr David Holdsworth (Chief Executive). His Majesty received briefings on the work of the Agency and visited the Avian Influenza Virology High Containment Laboratory and the Genome Mapping Laboratory, before visiting the Library and meeting members of staff and scientists. The Queen Consort this morning visited the British Racing School, Snailwell Road, Newmarket, to mark their Fortieth Anniversary and was received by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire (Mrs Julie Spence). Her Majesty, Patron, the British Sporting Art Trust, this afternoon visited Palace House, Palace Street, Newmarket, to unveil the Belvoir Huntsman painting and was received by the Hon Peter Stanley (Deputy Lieutenant of Suffolk).
Kensington Palace
The Prince and Princess of Wales this morning visited Hayes Muslim Centre, 3 Pump Lane, Hayes, Middlesex, and were received by Ms Manju Malhi (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London).
St James’s Palace
The Earl of Wessex this morning visited Propstore, Great House Farm, Chenies, and was received by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire (Mr Robert Voss). His Royal Highness this afternoon visited Ashridge House, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, and planted a tree for The Queen’s Green Canopy. The Earl of Wessex, Patron, the Production Guild of Great Britain, later visited Sky Studios Elstree, Rowley Lane, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire. The Countess of Wessex this morning visited the Countryside Education Trust, Palace Lane, Beaulieu, and was received by the Hon Mary Montagu-Scott (Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire). Her Royal Highness, Patron, Lions Clubs International, Multiple District 105, British Isles and Ireland, this afternoon planted trees for The Queen’s Green Canopy.
St James’s Palace
The Princess Royal, Patron, Maritime UK, this evening attended the Annual Awards at DoubleTree by Hilton Hull, 24 Ferensway, Kingston Upon Hull, and was received by Her Majesty’s LordLieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire (Mr James Dick).
Kensington Palace
The Duke of Gloucester, Grand Prior, the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, this evening attended the Installation Dinner of the Prior of the Priory of England and the Islands at St John’s Gate, 26 St John’s Lane, London EC1. The Duchess of Gloucester, Royal Patron, Missing People, this evening attended the “Night of Light” Gala Dinner at the Pan Pacific Hotel, Houndsditch, London EC3, to celebrate the Thirtieth Anniversary
13 notes · View notes
chill-that-ur-inmyhead · 2 years ago
Text
What are three names you like that start with the same letter as your fist name? Hailey, Harry, Hannah
How old will you turn on your next birthday? 25
What are three things you like about your birth month (besides it being the month your birthday is in)? Aquarius, I like the winter weather and majority of my friends also have their birthday's around that time
…and what are three things you dislike about it? It is close to valentine's day so my ex said that the celebration would be combined (I didn't mind too much but womp womp) It's a day before my mum's birthday and I used to hate that it was usually during school time
List three celebrities that are the same height as you. Emma Watson, Selena Gomez and Jennifer Anniston (WIN)
Are you happy with your height, or do you wish you were shorter or taller? Why? I wouldn't mind being 5'6 or 5'7 but no taller
Which family member did you inherit your hair colour from? Probs my dad's side of the family.
List three things in nature that are the same color as your eyes. 👀 Grass, leaves, trees lol
Are you happy with your current weight, or do you wish you weighed more or less? No way, less pls.
If applicable, how many pounds do you want to lose? 2 stone
How many years has it been since you were last a student enrolled in school? 🏫 I am still enrolled in university but will be graduating this year :)
What was your favourite class in high school? I really enjoyed maths class mainly because I got put into a group where we could work at the same pace and it was really supportive class!
How many sisters do you have? Zero.
How many brothers do you have? Uno.
If you had a twin sister, what would she be named? Maybe Imogen since that is another name my parents liked.
How many dogs have you had in your lifetime? 🐶 Sadly zero
How many cats have you had in your lifetime? 🐈 Sadly zero
Do you prefer dogs or cats? Rabbits hehe
Where was your dad born? Hertfordshire
Where was your mum born? Leicestershire
Where were you born? Essex
Have you ever met anyone unrelated to you that had the same last name as you? Yes, very common last name
How many sister-in-laws do you have? Zero
How many brother-in-laws do you have? Zero
How many nieces do you have? Zero
How many nephews do you have? Zero
How many of your grandparents are still living? Two
Are you good at taking pictures? 📸 I try
What are three things you’ve been complimented on? My smile, my hair and my lipstick application haha
What is your dream job? Lawyer - hopefully a good one
…and are you currently working in your dream job? I am!
Do you consider yourself spiritual? Hmm I think so but not too sure
Do you consider yourself religious? Yes but in a non-traditional sense
Do you have a positive or negative view of the word “religion”? Bit of both. It offered a good community for me when I was growing up and for my family but on the other side I have seen it used in the name of hatred and that sucks.
Do you have a positive or negative view of the word “spiritual”? I think spiritual has become a term where people want to distance themselves from traditional religion. I think that is good but I do think it isn't taken as seriously unfortunately.
Who is the most spiritual person you know? I don't know any personally or we haven't had that discussion yet.
When was the last time you stepped foot inside of a church? ⛪️ Years ago and probs for midnight mass
Do you regularly attend church? Why or why not? ⛪️ Not anymore. I think worship can happen anywhere and a church is not mandatory.
Have you ever been to a mosque? 🕌 nope
Have you ever been to a synagogue? 🕍 Yes on a school trip
What is your favourite religious holiday? Christmas is pretty good.
If applicable, does your faith mean a lot to you? Yes
Do you have the same worldview as your parents? I suppose but it probs deviates from time to time
Have you ever attended a Christian school? 🏫 Yes
How often do you pray? 🙏 Not actively.
Have you ever danced in church? 💃 Sang yes but not danced
Have you ever been baptized, and if so, where and how were you baptized? 🌊 Yes, as a baby in a catholic church
How many presidential elections have you voted in? 🗳️ I do not have presidential elections in my country :)
Are you happy with the current state of your nation? We need improving ofc
How many different medications do you normally take daily? 💊 none
Which medication(s) do you hate the most, and why? Not taken enough to know.
Is your current doctor a male or female? Depends who the appointment is with but last appointment I had a male doctor.
Do you prefer male or female doctors? Why? I haven't had a problem where I think I would feel more comfortable with a woman but I can imagine that would be a reason why
How is your mental health? How has it been lately? Feeling overwhelmed with exams finishing but also the idea of the unknown for what is next.
2 notes · View notes
driftwork · 2 years ago
Text
before she...a month or so later after arriving in  this universe... kind of like this... (minus)
Lets say it was the  at the end of  the sixth week or perhaps the sixth month or even a year after their arrival, on a hot summers evening,  Kim-Park-Seo, also known as Park and in another country as Nomiko and  her partner Sam, with her perfect southern english, is in a sleeveless summer dress that only served to emphasize the tattoos that ran up are arms and round her body,  walked across the perfect grass lawn with Sam who was wearing a loose linen suit and carrying a brown leather bag that contains; a cardigan,  kelvar vests and a gun or two. What did she say to the crimina, who the universe needed to not  breed with his enslaved woman, who the world calls his wife. Perhaps it doesn't matter, when a woman arrives with her partner to see you, before you return home and  fly away.  In another part of the event another woman  is speaking gently to the criminal's slave, his wife, before beginning the process of escorting her to safety. (You need to stay here because his masters will probably kill him and if you go with him you could also be a victim…) She stayed. Others watched, others waited. Glasses clinked.  People spoke. People listened. Some people standing in a small group are  watching her walk across the lawn, stand beside him and wished they were not there.
Occasionally, she says to him or perhaps its really to herself, I used to smoke back in the days when I thought I might die, could die at any time. Unlike now when the threats are more complex and differently present.   They are standing on the edge of the patio,  in front of them are steps lead down onto the grass in the formal garden.  The garden is lit by the houselights, and a string of light bulbs running along the garden walls and the popup bar at the far end of the lawn. The smoker is an American puffing on his cigerette.  The end of the cigerette is an incandescent dot glowing red in the dark. It looks to her as if its a red targeting dot resting on his face, a perfect target.  She feels quite nostalgic at the thought. I hear you are leaving the country and going back to the USA tomorrow? Half a question, half an existential threat.   He turns and looks at the tall woman of uncertain age standing next to him in a dark coloured  sleeveless dress, he doesn't know the tattoos have meaning and even if he did he wouldn't know how to interpret them. That's true, I have been recalled  home, my work here is done so its back to head office. My replacement is over their somewhere, he says gesturing towards the small group mentioned before[…]  The American is luxuriating in  his cigerette with its smoldering point which serves as a perfect target, as he looks at her,  conscious that her face is unusually bleak, not aware that he is standing next to  a fate as certain as an unstoppable bullet from a rifle or a handgun - though perhaps it will look like a pure accident,  a meteor falling from space,  a building collapse in an earthquake in California or Greece, perhaps a mass shooting in Falls Church where unusually the murderer is not identified and is neither insane nor a terrorist, or a sex worker arriving from the spectacle who will deliver a rare sexually transmitted disease in his office tomorrow morning before he leaves for the airport  that will kill him in a few months time,  or perhaps it will be a wasp stinging his driver  which causes an accident on the E556 as he travels in Virginia. Last time, she thinks, I put a few 9mm bullets in your head and vanished you, burying your body on a hill in Hertfordshire but I don't own the hill here,  yet, and cannot plant the infant oak tree over your dead body as I did last time.  And sighs with regret. Whatever he will not know the cause of his death. He flicks the cigerette butt out into the dark,  a glowing trail that arcs through the air, is not merely a dot but the yellow red arc that that erases the dot, a line across the landscape, an empty trail that has no target,  the arc itself being the purpose. Lucretius would be pleased, she thinks. It lands in a flower bed in a small explosion of sparks. And you, he asks, what are you here for? She refuses the cigerette he offers. An aspiration seeking a target, a desire that should be refused. I imagine it would be nice to be a good person, she says pausing before continuing;  my partner is being introduced to Martyn,  don’t know why. She can hear Mathew Shipps fingers tracing a line of sound like the muted quiver of angels wings, á piano line plays in her head.  He’s my replacement. The man said.  Ah really,  we missed dealing with one another by a few days then.  Who are you? He asks her.  I work for the universe. She says bleakly. The universe? Yes I am an agent for the universe, or is that multiverse? not really sure,  i am probably less destructive  than an asteroid or comet […]   And then she smiles at him. A while ago my brother and his wife were hurt,  what's a woman going to do when she identifies the people who did this,  and the management figures who thought this was a good idea?  And the universe doesn't care. Nothing at all, she sighs, I’m not allowed to it turns out. After all a woman has to protect her husband. So since your leaving and i know what you do, and as you are  politically immune I thought I'd ask why?  He looks at her, understanding dawning, it's getting darker but it feels like dawn to him, should I answer?  So your his sister. Why not I'm leaving tomorrow.  It was ages ago when this really started, it was about money, we were expanding  into the area he operated in, he was the softest target, and its my government's policy.  So it was an imperial  takeover, drugs, money, people, eventually the hedge fund. My brother wanted to become major, to escape from his violent history. He thought that was possible.  (I'm like a piano player,  standing with a man who is tossing his burning cigarettes into the night thinking he is safe, she thinks.)  Mostly people are harmless, we threaten them and they either do what we say or... he says, thinking he will probably have to send people. He never does of course. [...] Flicking his lighter, inhaling smoke.  He watches her nod. I wondered what it was,  thank you for telling me,  just business, politics, power. I thought it might be personal. It was a long time ago. Harmless, yes I suppose it is true that people are. That's very good.  So that was it. My brother and his wife are going back to Tokyo. My brother, she says, tells me to stop because I will be killed if I say unnecessary things.  But you see, even in this universe it seems my brother is kinder and nicer than I am.  Most people are. I work for the universe. I think the universe needs us to live the lives we already lived again.  We are documenting the differences and repetitions. She pauses. The governments want you alive. You’ll be safe when you get back home.  [she doesn't say to him - Though the council, my brother will probably send people to kill you. Not our responsibility in the USA…]  If  I was you I would keep running and hide out in Idaho or Alberta.  (she doesn't say you will live a few weeks longer that way, though she thinks it.) She takes the lighter from his fingers using a gesture that she had learnt as a teenager in a dojo in  South Shinguko. She looks at the lighter,  then at him,  it’s a long time since i did that. He wants to step forward but finds himself stepping backwards. (if you don't go,  she thinks, i will see you in a few days. Or does she say that aloud.  Enjoying the threat. Does he see that in her face? )  I'm getting married in a few days time, it turns out we need to get married in this universe for the same reasons we did in the other one, it makes people feel secure,  imagine that.  She says to him, as for me I am going home now to make carrot cake, send the babysitter home, drink some Belvedere with him and talk about life.  All this in the spacetime of a man smoking  two cigarettes. Who was that woman? he asks his secretary.  They stand together watching her glide across the lawn. The secretary isn’t sure her feet are touching the ground.
Park leaves him standing there and is marveling at her constraint. I am so old, sixty years old in a thirty year old body, she thinks. She is walking towards her tall european man who has the brown leather bag hanging across his body, he is standing talking to Martyn, who is the American's replacement, the American Ambassador, Fergus and the Minister.   We should go she says to him.  She has been spoken to, she will be safe now. She takes a glass from a passing waiter's tray. Stops him. Puts the glass back on the tray.  We'll be going now.  As they walk away,  waiting and bar staff, and  some of the security people start leaving. As they walked through the building  she said to him, I don’t get to kill him in this universe.  He says, It's a deterministic universe and this is one of the things that is as inevitable as gravity.  I know it's the price of safety, still I wanted to say "Have a good trip, capitalist zombie." But I didn't.  We'll need more fertilizer for the oak tree, he says. The sounds of a happy man walking across a car park to a car with his partner, his wife. The multiverse is pleased when the american dies shortly after arriving home in the USA,  precisely who killed him doesn't matter. Another universal crisis avoided.  Perhaps it has other things it wants them to do... Why did they choose to save the criminal's wife?
(Perhaps we should mention that there is  also the question of a future descendent who wanted to rescue her from her life of enslavement so that later she  would find a nice husband (fully vetted by our heroine)with whom she  would have a daughter and this daughter would have a son who in turn would have another child who would in turn unnecessarily try to rescue this woman and find that she had already been rescued by them. This person from the future would have helped the woman stay behind in London, with a barely perceptible use of force, which was unnecessary [...] But this is not why they chose to save her, in actuality it was just that they could. )
2 notes · View notes
prezsavconnections · 2 years ago
Photo
Tumblr media
(—) ★ spotted!! madeline lawrence on the cover of this week’s most recent tabloid! many say that the 37 year old looks like anne hathaway, but i don’t really see it. while  the psychologist turned actress is known for being bubbly my inside sources say that they have a tendency to be blunt i swear, every time i think of them, i hear the song don’t call me angel by miley cyrus, ariana grande, and lana del rey  {she/her; female} - penned by sushi
♥  𝐓𝐇𝐄   𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐒 ,
𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥   𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞   :   madeline grace lawrence . 𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬   :   mads , maddie . 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞   :  february fourteen , nineteen eighty five . 𝐚𝐠𝐞   :   thirty seven . 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞   :   henley-on-thames , oxfordshire , uk . 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭  𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞   :    beverly hills ,   los   angeles &  borehamwood , southern hertfordshire, england ,  centre-val de Loire , france . 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫   :   cis   female .   𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧   :   bisexual .
𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬   :   unnamed lawrence ( actor ) , unnamed lawrence ( socialite ) . 𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬   :   graham   lawrence  ( older brother ) . 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫   𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲   :  reid lawrence ( nephew ) . 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬   :   english ,   french ,  italian ,  romanian , greek , german . 𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧   :   actress  (career claim : anne hathaway (early years) & Gal Gadot ) . 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧   :  university of cambridge ( psychology )  . 𝐳𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐜   :   aquarius . 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫   𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬   :    addison montgomery  ( grey’s anatomy ) ,   grace burgess  ( the peaky blinders ) ,   blair waldorf   ( gossip girl ) ,   haley james scott  ( one tree hill ) ,   mary stuart   ( reign ) ,    spencer hastings  ( pretty little liar’s )  .
♥  𝐓𝐇𝐄   𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 ,
age 16 : cast in first role as princess amelia mignonette thermopolis grenaldi in The princess diaries .
age 19 : meets louie wiley at oscar’s award show after being seated at the same table as him and immediately hits if off with him . the pair are hopelessly in love and become one of hollywood’s favorite couples
age 23 : discovers she is pregnant with louie’s child ( obviously ) but ultimately miscarries ; madeline withdraws from louie ultimately breaking up with him and disappearing from his life ( until now )
age 25 : completes bachelors degree for psychology and is officially licensed therapist/psychologist 
age 26-32 : focuses on work both therapist and actress wise
age 33-36 : gets into a relationship that ultimately ends up being extremely abusive after she married him at 34 ; at 36 she finally musters up the strength to leave and never look back
♥  𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐈𝐃𝐒 ,
paid her own way through cambridge without the help of her parents thanks to blowing up as an actress .
majority of her therapy sessions with clients are hybrid ; this allows her to work as both a therapist and an actress taking majority of her clients through zoom meetings , phone calls , and text .
she only takes on fellow celebrities as patients for obvious reasons .
a long-term advocate for the Nike Foundation to raise awareness against child marriage .
she spent a week in Nicaragua to help vaccinate children against hepatitis A .
has also traveled to other countries to heed the rights of women and girls, including Kenya and Ethiopia .
was honored at Elle's Women in Hollywood tribute and won an award from the Human Rights Campaign for her philanthropy in 2008 .
is involved with charities Creative Coalition, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Human Rights Campaign .
was appointed UN Women Goodwill ambassador based on her advocacy for gender equality .
as an actress she has a net worth of $80 million .
played wonder woman in the dc universe .
super close with older brother’s former in-laws , the kennedy’s .
♥  Acting Career ,  
tba but it’s Gal Gadot mixed with early years Anne Hathaway
3 notes · View notes
holmwood-construction · 28 days ago
Text
Maximise Your Space
Thinking about adding extra space to your home? Home extensions and loft conversions are great options for creating that additional room you need without the hassle of moving. Whether you’re looking to add a new bedroom, office, or playroom, these projects can completely transform your living space. With Holmwood Construction, you’re choosing reliable experts who can guide you through every step of the process. They’re trusted as the leading builders St Albans location for high-quality work and great communication. Alongside extensions and loft conversions, they also offer fantastic renovation services to give your home a fresh new look. From concept to completion, they’ll ensure the entire process is smooth, efficient, and tailored to your needs. Trust them to bring your vision to life.
The Transportation System in St Albans, Hertfordshire
Getting around St Albans is a breeze, whether you’re commuting or exploring the area. The train station is a major hub, with quick, frequent services to London in about 20 minutes. Buses connect the city with nearby towns and villages, although the routes might not always suit your schedule. If you drive, you’ll appreciate the easy access to motorways like the M25 and M1, making longer trips straightforward. Parking in the city center can be tricky at busy times, so walking or cycling is often the way to go. St Albans is also pedestrian-friendly, with its compact layout and plenty of walkable paths. You’ll find getting around simple, whether you’re local or just visiting.
Verulamium Park in St Albans, Hertfordshire
Verulamium Park is one of those places where you can spend hours without realizing it. It’s a massive green space with loads to do, whether you’re out for a jog, walking the dog, or just relaxing by the lake. There’s a play area for kids, plenty of benches for picnics, and even Roman ruins scattered around the park. The lake attracts ducks and swans, and it’s a peaceful spot for a stroll. On sunny days, it’s the perfect place to unwind or meet up with friends. You’ll also find the café handy if you need a quick snack or a coffee. With its mix of history and nature, it’s easy to see why it’s a favorite with locals and visitors.
Works Begin To Restore Ecosystem Of St Albans Rare Chalk Stream
It’s great to see efforts being made to restore the River Ver’s ecosystem, especially since chalk streams are so rare and unique. If you’ve ever walked along one, you’ll know how peaceful and beautiful they can be, but they’re also fragile and need protecting. The work being done—removing unhealthy trees, creating wetlands, and improving access—shows a thoughtful approach to balancing conservation with public use. It’s also good to see collaboration between the council, Environment Agency, and Affinity Water, not to mention securing significant funding. Projects like this don’t just benefit wildlife; they create spaces for people to enjoy nature and learn about protecting it. It’s a reminder that long-term environmental work is crucial and well worth the investment.
Link to map
Verulamium Park St Michael's Street, St Albans AL1 3JE, United Kingdom Head northeast on Bluehouse Hill/A4147 0.4 mi At Batchwood Roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Verulam Rd/A5183 0.2 mi At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Folly Ln/A4147 Continue to follow A4147 0.6 mi At the roundabout, take the 4th exit onto St Peter's St/A1081 Destination will be on the left 0.2 mi Holmwood Construction Censeo House, 6 St Peter's St, St Albans AL1 3LF, United Kingdom
0 notes
hrjtreeserviceslimited · 5 months ago
Text
Expert Tree Surgery Services in Hertford: Professional Care for Your Trees
HRJ Tree Services Limited offers expert tree surgery in Hertford. Our dedicated team provides professional care and maintenance to ensure the health and safety of your trees. From pruning and shaping to removal and disease management, we offer comprehensive solutions tailored to your needs. You can opt for our services in Essex, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, and North London, UK.
0 notes
Text
Tree Cutting Hertfordshire - How to Choose the Best Tree Cutting Service Provider
youtube
If you're looking for the best tree cutting service provider in Hertfordshire, you've come to the right place. As experts in the field of tree care and maintenance, we understand the importance of choosing the right provider to ensure the health and safety of your trees, as well as the protection of your property. In this article, we'll guide you through the process of choosing the best tree cutting service provider in Hertfordshire.
Research and Background Check The first step in choosing a tree cutting service provider is to conduct research and perform a background check. You can start by checking the company's website, reading online reviews, and asking for referrals from friends and family. Make sure that the company you choose is licensed and insured, and that they have a good reputation in the industry.
Expertise and Experience Tree cutting is a dangerous and complex task that requires expertise and experience. When choosing a tree cutting service provider, make sure that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to perform the job safely and efficiently. Ask the company about their experience in the field, the equipment they use, and the techniques they employ.
Safety Standards Safety should always be a top priority when it comes to tree cutting. Make sure that the company you choose has a good safety record and adheres to industry standards and regulations. Ask the company about their safety procedures, the training they provide to their staff, and the safety equipment they use.
Customer Service Customer service is an important factor to consider when choosing a tree cutting service provider. Make sure that the company you choose is responsive to your needs and provides excellent customer service. Ask the company about their communication channels, their availability, and their responsiveness to customer queries and concerns.
Pricing Pricing is also an important consideration when choosing a tree cutting service provider. Make sure that the company you choose provides a transparent and competitive pricing structure, with no hidden costs or charges. Ask for a detailed quote and make sure that you understand the scope of the work, the timeframe, and the pricing structure.
Conclusion Choosing the best tree cutting service provider in Hertfordshire requires careful consideration and research. Make sure that the company you choose has a good reputation, the necessary expertise and experience, adheres to safety standards, provides excellent customer service, and offers a transparent and competitive pricing structure. By following these guidelines, you can ensure the health and safety of your trees, as well as the protection of your property.
Tumblr media
1 note · View note
hertfordshiret · 2 years ago
Text
Hertfordshire Trees
Address : 20 Kindersley Close
Welwyn Al6 9RN
Phone : 07775 743861
Website : https://hertfordshiretrees.co.uk/
Hertfordshire Trees is your one-stop shop for all tree surgery needs in Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas of Harpenden and St Albans. We provide a comprehensive range of services to meet all of your needs and requirements, from felling to stump grinding, and reducing to hedge trimming. For your peace of mind, we are highly experienced in tree surgery and perform all of our work to high quality and safety standards.
Hours : Open 24 hours
1 note · View note
localizee · 2 years ago
Link
We are Hertfordshire Trading Standards Approved and Which Trusted Traders.
1 note · View note
Link
Robinson Tree Services Ltd are lending tree surgeons operating in Hertfordshire and St Albans offering a superior professional tree surgeon and tree work through a range of services including tree felling, tree work and tree pruning.
0 notes
notwiselybuttoowell · 4 years ago
Text
We're Stewards of Our Land: The Rise of Female Farmers
'I was always fascinated by getting things out of the ground’
Tumblr media
Sinead Fenton
Grows vegetables and edible flowers at Aweside Farm, East Sussex
Sinead Fenton is on an early lunch break, hiding from the sun. “It’s ridiculously intense, so I think we’re going to call it a day and crack back on in the evening,” she says. Fenton and her partner, Adam Smith, have been putting in beds and getting ahead on groundwork for next year. This year, there will be no commercial crops on the couple’s 4.5-acre plot.
They signed the papers on their farm last November and moved onto the land in March. Around the time they needed to make decisions about how they’d manage their first harvest, lockdown happened. With restaurants and florists – their main clients – out of action for the foreseeable future, they made the decision not to sow seeds but concentrate on opening up the land. “We were going to do it over three or four years, so we’re squeezing three years of work into this year, so we can focus on growing next year,” Fenton says.
She and Smith cut their scythes at Audacious Veg, a 0.1-acre plot in Hainault, at the end of the Central Line between Essex and London. Shortly after volunteering at the allotment in 2017, they heard the project was about to finish: “Naively, with about three weeks’ worth of growing experience, we decided that we’d take it on and get the produce to chefs.”
Smith worked in insurance accounting and while Fenton most recently worked in software and food policy, her background was in geology. “I came at farming from an activist point of view,” she says. “I was always fascinated by getting things out of the ground, but that is a destructive industry. Farming is nicer because I can do something for the system instead of taking everything from it.”
There was a lot of insecurity around the project. Land is contentious, especially in London, and land law is difficult and expensive to negotiate for those with no farming background. “Adam and I are both from cities – I’m from London, he’s from Essex. We’re from low-income families, and we had no access to farms growing up,” Fenton explains. “It’s basically impossible to get on the land, because it’s so expensive, or passed down through generations.”
They got the land for Aweside through the Ecological Land Co-op, which buys fields designated by Defra as only being good for arable crops, then splits them up to create smallholdings. Aweside is neighbours with a veg-box scheme, and waiting for others who’ll transform what once was a 20-acre maize field into a cluster of small farms rich with biodiversity. Now Fenton and Smith have a 150-year lease, and no worries that what they create will be taken away.
It’s not yet a permanent home. Fenton says they’ll be living in a caravan for a few years: “Another part of land law in the UK that makes land inaccessible is that if you want to live on your land you have to go through five years of proving your business is profitable, viable and that there is a functional need for you to live there.” Having livestock is an easy way to pass the test, but because Aweside is a vegan farm, Fenton and Smith need to cultivate and show they use every bit of plot.
It’s daunting but Fenton is excited about having a blank slate to work with. “There’s so much more to food than what supermarkets tell us to eat,” she says, explaining that they’ll grow varieties at risk of extinction, or that aren’t commonly grown in a mass market food system. “Seed diversity and plant genetics are serious issues.”
The three principles the couple work to are: more flowers, more trees, thriving soil. They’re working no-dig, putting compost directly on the ground and letting the soil life mix everything over time. They’re pesticide-free and are counting on the fact that the more diversity they have in the system, especially with a high proportion of flowers to pollinators and insects, the fewer problems they’ll face.
“Socially, economically and environmentally, something needs to change. Things have been done the same way by the same people for a long time,” says Fenton of the farming industry’s need for greater diversity. “I learned to grow on an allotment site where there are lots of different things growing at once. Bringing that approach into sites like this is needed – the industry needs it to keep itself relevant.”
'I'm hoping this will be seen as quite a cool career… even if it’s not’
Tumblr media
Abi Aspen Glencross
Head of grains at Duchess Farms, Hertfordshire
It was, Abi Aspen Glencross was well aware, an odd, even inopportune time to launch a crowdfunding campaign. In June, with the country still locked down, Duchess Farms asked for support to buy dehulling, cleaning and milling equipment. The Hertfordshire farm needed about £16,000, and the money would go towards boosting the production of ancient and heritage grains for making flour.
“A lot of crowdfunders have been for charity or ‘please keep our restaurant open’,” says the 28-year-old Glencross, head of grains – or “senior flour nerd” – at Duchess Farms since 2019. “We felt a bit bad, but we lost a lot of our business overnight when all the restaurants closed and we were like: ‘God, we hope we don’t go under.’ It was quite a scary time for everyone.”
Still, if we have learned one thing from Covid-19, when times are hard, British people get baking. Perhaps inspired by countrywide shortages of flour, maybe invigorated by a new interest in left-field, older wheats such as einkorn and emmer, Duchess Farms sprinted to its target. “We’ve just done some ordering of equipment this morning,” says Aspen, when we speak in July. “It’s been a tough time for everyone but it has cascaded into some beautiful things and we’re just so thankful.”
Glencross’s path to farming was circuitous. She studied chemical engineering, but while her classmates were heading off for jobs at ExxonMobil and Procter & Gamble, she was more of “a hippy at heart”. She decided she wanted to learn more about soil and its role in food production. This led her to Blue Hill Stone Barns, Dan Barber’s pioneering farm-to-table restaurant in the Hudson Valley, north of New York. She spent four months working on the farm and in the bakery, receiving a crash course in ancient grains – an obsession of Barber’s. But the moment Glencross knew she herself wanted to farm came in 2016 in a field in Hertfordshire. She was with John Cherry, who was showing her around Weston Park Farms, 2,500 acres of land he maintains with minimal fertiliser use and zero tillage.
“We were walking around the fields of wheat and I just said: ‘Where does all this go? There’s so much of it,’” Glencross says. “And John goes: ‘Oh probably for animal feed. It’s a consistent market, they’ll take it, it’s easy, even if we don’t earn that much money from it.’ And I was like: ‘This is crazy.’ And that was the beginning of me getting on this grain bender because I was like: ‘Why can’t we grow these grains organically and not feed them to animals?’ So I realised I’d have to start a business, because there were not very many people doing that.”
Heritage grains can be harder to produce in vast quantities – einkorn, especially, is “a bitch to harvest” – but they do have advantages over conventional wheats. They typically have deep roots and grow tall, which means they shade out weeds and do not require chemical sprays. The end product is more nutritious and then there’s the taste. Since 2017, Glencross has run a roving supper club called the Sustainable Food Story with Sadhbh Moore, and Duchess Farms has worked closely with bakeries such as E5 Bakehouse in east London and Gail’s, and restaurants including Doug McMaster’s Silo. “Heritage grains are delicious: when you stop growing for yield and you start growing for quality the flavour is insane,” says Glencross.
Learning to farm from scratch has not been straightforward, but you sense that’s a big part of the appeal for Glencross. “There’s all these decisions the farmer makes throughout the year and why he sprays and why he doesn’t,” she says. “You realise that most people get up, sit at a computer all day and if they press the wrong button, they just delete it. When you’re a farmer, you plant at the wrong time of year and tomorrow it washes away your whole crop.”
Glencross acknowledges that it is almost unprecedented for women to run arable farms. She struggles to name a single other example in the UK. She also notes wryly that men dominate all the farming conferences, saying: “They have a wife but it’s always the men who have written the book and given the presentation.”
With more role models, Glencross hopes things will change. “I’m not cool in any way, but I’m a reasonably young lady,” she says, laughing. “And so when people say: ‘What do you do? Oh, you’re a farmer. Maybe I could do that …’ So I’m hoping that it might become seen as quite a desirable, almost cool career.” A pause: “Even if it’s very much not cool.” 
111 notes · View notes
chaoswillfallrpg · 4 years ago
Photo
Tumblr media
DRUELLA BLACK (née ROSIER) is SIXTY-TWO YEARS OLD and a SOCIALITE amongst THE SACRED TWENTY-EIGHT in LONDON. She looks remarkably like MICHELLE PFIFER and considers herself aligned with THE DEATH EATERS. She is currently OPEN.
→ OVERVIEW:
The scent of expensive perfume and the light girlish laugh that echoes through a ballroom as champagne glasses clink, Druella Black is a glittering jewel in the crown of the Black family tree and one of their finest additions. The daughter of former wizengamot judge HUGO ROSIER and socialite ODILIA LA TREMOILLE, Druella was raised in the lap of luxury in the South of France, every inch a fairytale princess and her mother’s most treasured possession. The La Tremoille family valued appearance above all else, known for throwing lavish balls where enchanted champagne fountains flowed. Outward projection of wealth, happiness and elegance was of utmost importance in her home and as soon as Druella was old enough to balance a book on her head she was put through rigorous training to become a valued member of the La Tremoille dynasty. An only child until she was five, Druella was very much her mother’s daughter, with slight interactions from her father that would stick in her memory as she began to raise her own children. Hugo and his wife were incredibly different people, her father more focused on family and true happiness rather than performing for the society they found themselves in. He had married for love as well as convention, though Druella had often suspected that Odilia saw their family as little treasures inside her jewellery box rather than people she should love and nurture. 
Hugo enjoyed playing with Druella, making her laugh in an unladylike manner and encouraging her to consider what she liked rather than felt she had to do. It was because of this, Odilia became the main figure in Druella’s life, particularly after her younger brother AXEL was born. The two children had very different upbringings though they were raised in the same household. Druella took tea in the parlour and took trips to Wizarding Paris with her mother to explore boutiques and be fitted for gowns and bonnets, whilst Axel predominantly stayed in Lyon, exploring their grounds and reading the books and maps in their father’s library where his thirst for knowledge was nurtured. By the time Druella began attending Beauxbatons the pair could not be more different, Axel was her wild younger brother and she was a dainty swan set to swim in the lake of pompery amongst the French upper classes. Attending school was a breeze for someone like Druella, though she was not a veela she was just as beautiful and that beauty unlocked many doors for her that would remain closed for most. She was a dainty doll that people felt compelled to take care of, but underneath her beauty was a mind always working, considering each decision and step like she was dancing a waltz that her life depended on. Friends were carefully curated and relationships grew mostly out of convenience and convention rather than fondness.
A subdued blonde, Druella enjoyed her position as the most underestimated person in the room, left to her own devices to curate her own happiness whilst their eyes were trained on her beautiful dresses and mesmerizing blue gaze. When Druella joined society post Beauxbatons she was the jewel of the season and the most sought after debutant in Paris. On the arm of her brother, she would enter rooms and listen to the silence with as much pleasure as if she were hearing a string quartet. Each weekend she would open Le Sorcier Du Dimanche and read of her triumph at balls and the speculation as to who she would finally marry. Her whole life had been cantered around that question, but Druella enjoyed the thrill of the chase and the attention she garnered. Druella Rosier knew she was the best and would only give her hand to the man who deserved it. CYGNUS BLACK was a few years younger than Druella, but from the moment he took her hand to dance it was love at first sight. An English gentleman, he pursued her quite ruthlessly with the vigor and passion veiled with British charm that the Black family were known for. The day Druella Rosier became Druella Black was the event of the decade, with enchanted bottles of champagne popping as she walked down the aisle and doves released as they kissed. Cygnus was the younger brother of the Black family, but the pair had enough money that lesser inheritance on his part was not an issue.
After a number of years living between Paris and London, drinking in lavish bars and attending parties, Druella was whisked away to Cygnus’ family home of Brideswater Manor in Hertfordshire to begin growing their family. An image conscious woman, Druella wanted her youth to be filled with beauty and splendour, though she had always had dreams of becoming a mother and raising her three daughters filled her heart with more happiness than she could have ever imagined. BELLATRIX came first, her face determined and her hair as black as night. ANDROMEDA came next, subdued just like Druella but an academic like her father, then NARCISSA, her blonde hair blonde and eyes an icy blue. Druella loved them all equally, her shimmering jewels she stroked and kissed each night before bed, but with Narcissa she shared a specifically deeper bond. As their girls grew older, Druella and Cygnus would watch them and speak about their differences, Narcissa would be their debutant, their image conscious darling whose name would be known throughout the Wizarding World for her beauty. In a house filled with strong minds, Druella sought comfort in her youngest daughter who resisted the least to a life of pretty dresses and parties any woman in The Sacred Twenty-Eight was destined and excited for. Raising three daughters is difficult for any parent, but even the most able of parents would have struggled with Bellatrix. 
Although she accepted her place in society, like Druella’s brother Axel she detested rubbing shoulders with people not like them and fought her at every turn as she pulled her hair into beautiful ribbons and attempted to make her into a lady. It was perhaps due to the similarities between Bellatrix and Druella’s brother, the two were not as close as Druella had first imagined. Nevertheless she persisted with all three of her children, taking books away from Andromeda and applying lipstick to Bellatrix’s pursed lips whilst Narcissa watched with a smug smile. Druella had a clear image in her head for the way her daughter’s lives would pan out. They’d each be happily married by twenty-five or at the very least thirty, with their own homes and later children, hosting balls and clinking crystal glasses. When Cygnus had encouraged Bellatrix to travel and Andromeda to pursue a legal career, Druella was most distressed but had agreed due to the love she had for her children, though she insisted they return home each summer and take her wishes seriously of them marrying well and continuing their lineage. THE DARK LORD was a spanner in Druella’s plans she could not have accounted for, nor the scheming and meddling of her sister-in-law WALBURGA and how much her husband would place the pursuit of power above the safety of their children. Druella saw value in the new world he was creating and pledged her allegiance alongside the rest of her family, though she did so with narrowed cerulean eyes. 
Walburga maintained that Bellatrix having such proximity to The Dark Lord was an honour for their family and would enable better prospects for all their children. Outwardly she nodded and smiled, though privately she worried and watched silently as her niece and nephew ALEXANDRA and EVAN joined her daughter, waiting for the moment Andromeda and Narcissa would be next. It was their admittance into The Dark Lord’s movement that spurred Druella on to become a better aunt to her late brother’s children. Though Druella and Axel had never been close, she had loved her brother dearly and was saddened by his passing. With their mother absent, a matter which was taken care of thankfully by Cygnus to which she wanted limited knowledge of, Druella saw herself somewhat of a pseudo mother to the pair, making a concerted effort to ensure their happiness. Used to raising difficult women, Alexandra was something of a dream to Druella, a true beauty who knew her own mind and how to work a room which Druella admired greatly. With the season approaching, Druella is choosing to ignore the scheming and drama of her family to focus on her own pursuits. Though she is aware the season will end with a bang, Druella is committed to the idea that nothing will spoil this time of the year for her and that at least one of her family, hopefully her daughters, will receive a proposal before the magnolias begin to wilt and save her the embarrassment of another year with three single children.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Blood Status → Pure-Blood
Pronouns → She/Her
Identification → Cis Female
Sexuality  → Up to Roleplayer
Relationship Status → Married to Cygnus Black
Previous Education → Beauxbatons Academy of Magic
Societies → Pura Sorores (co-chair)
Family → Hugo Rosier (father), Odilia Rosier (mother), Axel Rosier (deceased brother), Cygnus Black (husband), Bellatrix Black (daughter), Andromeda Black (daughter), Narcissa Black (daughter), Orion Black (brother-in-law/close friend), Walburga Black (sister-in-law/close friend) Sirius Black (estranged newphew), Regulus Black (nephew), Adele Rosier (estranged sister-in-law), Evan Rosier (nephew), Alexandra Rosier (niece)
Connections  → Lotte Flint (close friend), Cecily Greengrass (close friend), Vivienne Travers (close friend), Luella Prewett (close friend), Kratista Burke (close friend), Ismena Yaxley (close friend), Alicia Avery-Jones (acquaintance)
Future Information → N/A
DRUELLA BLACK IS A LEVEL 4 WITCH.
17 notes · View notes
joiedecombat · 4 years ago
Text
Continuing in the vein of common Pride and Prejudice AU plots: Elizabeth marries someone else!
A lot of the time this is just to set her up as a wealthy widow of a peer and turn the disparity of social standing on its head, but sometimes the writers are out for blood.
Tumblr media
Prime example: The Events at Branxbourne by Caitlin Williams.
This is The Worst Timeline. Okay, maybe Amy D'Orazio's Mysteries of Pemberley has it beat for overall bleakness, but Mysteries is a Gothic, they're supposed to be bleak. I'm not sure what Branxbourne's excuse is.
By the beginning of this book, almost the entire cast is miserable. Jane died of a fever shortly after Elizabeth's sojourn in Kent. Mr Bennet had what appears to have been a stroke, and though he survived it's left him physically impaired. Charles Bingley doesn't speak to Darcy any more since Jane's death; Darcy has spent the last several years burying himself in Derbyshire while Georgiana, in the care of her Fitzwilliam relatives in London, has fallen in with the bad influences of the shallow fashionable set. Colonel Fitzwilliam married Anne de Bourgh and didn't realize how much he loved her until she died giving birth to his son. And Elizabeth is married to an Earl who is mentally ill, abusive, deeply in debt and might have murdered his last wife.
GOOD TIMES. The only characters doing at all well for themselves are, oddly enough, Lydia and Wickham... but not with each other.
Naturally things only get worse from there once Darcy crosses Elizabeth's path again for the first time in years and starts to realize just how bad a situation that she's in.
"Do not cry, Elizabeth. I could bear anything but that."
She trembles. Looking about, seeing we are half-hidden by the trees and that there is no one around, I reach out and press her hand, squeeze her fingers tightly, but only for a moment. "My love, do not cry."
"Your love. Is that what I am?"
"Can I be plainer?"
"Yes, please." She surprises me with a broad smile. "Please do be very plain about it."
"You are my love," I tell her. "My only love, till the end of time. Whatever else my happen, and we may expect dark days ahead, never doubt that in this moment, beneath this perfect, blue sky, on this warm September day, you are loved as no other woman has ever been loved before. You are loved for all that you are, for what you once were, for all you will come to be."
"Mr Darcy, if only you had not once hidden your talent for compliments so well, then we might not be in this terrible mess."
I love a good Darcy To The Rescue story as much as anybody, but this one's A Lot. You've gotta be in a mood to wallow in the melodrama, to want to see these characters pushed to their limits by a situation that can't be endured and which their society's laws and mores offer no palatable solution for.
The happy ending comes as it should, but the trip there is an especially rough ride with little comic relief.
Content warning: domestic abuse, depiction of mental illness, infidelity (emotional if not physical), angst, first person present tense narration.
Tumblr media
"If you, too, would enter into this marriage for practical reasons, I would be more easy with the notion. Then we would give to each other only what was received."
He smiled faintly. "Alas, my desire to marry you is formed by the wishes of my heart, not my head, so I cannot oblige you."
"If I did feel myself forming a more romantic attachment, I would welcome it. I just want you to understand that I do not know whether it will occur. It must be yours to decide whether or not you can be in an unequal marriage."
"I have considered it," he admitted after a thoughtful pause. "I see how you loved your husband, and I did not expect to supplant that. I shall readily admit that I am a jealous man, and to know that your heart belongs to him is difficult for me to accept. However, my choice is for an unequal marriage no matter what we decide. Either I can be with you--the one I love--or I can marry another and, thus, be with one who might love me but whom I do not love. You see, just as your heart is for Henry, mine is for you. That will not change.
"So, fully apprehending your hesitation, I say yes, I do agree to a practical marriage with you, accepting whatever amount of affection you give to me because I cannot live without you."
Amy D'Orazio's The Best Part of Love, meanwhile, has Elizabeth already married and widowed by the time she meets Darcy. Her husband was murdered in a treasonous plot that required her to live incognito with her family in Hertfordshire for a couple of years, allowing Darcy to make his usual astonishingly bad first impression at the Meryton assembly and fall in love more or less at first sight.
Rather than Branxbourne's unrelenting angst, this book is a whole soap opera: unnecessarily complicated backstory, misunderstandings and mistaken identities, high emotion, a mystery, and a sharp plunge into acute misery in the third act when it turns out that Elizabeth's late husband might be considerably less dead than advertised, to the dismay of nearly everyone involved.
It's a very well-written soap opera, and worth reading if you're looking for that kind of emotional roller coaster.
The essence of the problem was that there was simply nothing he could do for the situation. He had never before been faced with a challenge for which some action could not be taken. He could neither buy anything nor persuade anyone, work at something nor study a topic, take himself away from his pain nor have the pain removed. He did not even have the comfort of despising someone. There was no one to despise, not even himself, for all had acted with honour and integrity and done the best they could with the hand they had been dealt. It was nothing more than a circumstance beyond anyone's control, and that made it insupportable.
After leaving him to wallow about in his despair for a fortnight, his cousins came for him as he had suspected they eventually would.
"Have you left your house at all, Darcy?" Fitzwilliam's face bore a look of vexing kindliness.
"What do you think--that I sit here all day pining for her?" he snapped.
"That is precisely what I think," Saye replied, tousling Darcy's hair as he walked by and then further compounding his sin by not even looking to see the angry scowl Darcy gave him.
This book also contains my favorite version ever of Colonel Fitzwilliam's older brother, here (as in all of the rest of D'Orazio's Pride and Prejudice fiction) named Viscount Saye and characterized as a languid, almost terminally unflappable dandy with very few social filters to speak of and absolutely no fucks to give. He's an affectionate cousin to Darcy and usually gleefully awful, and is a character I enjoy very much.
Content warning: very brief reference to suicidal thoughts, high melodrama.
8 notes · View notes